Scott Myers

Daily Dialogue — September 6, 2016

Felix: Oscar, you’re asking to hear something I don’t want to say, but if I do say it, I think you ought to hear it. Oscar: You got anything on your chest besides your chin, you better get it off. Felix: All right! Then you asked for it!

Zero Draft Thirty 2016 Autumn Challenge: Day 5

Zero Draft Thirty: Day 5. September 1: Type FADE IN / The Beginning. September 30: Type FADE OUT / The End. 30 days. 1 script. Movie script. TV script. First draft. Rewrite. Whatever. Get it down. Get it done. For background on how the Zero Draft Challenge came into being and what

Everything you wanted to know about specs [Part 1]

Spec scripts, that is. I’m guessing that perhaps 90% of the people who follow this blog at some point in their lives will write a spec script. And the other 10% are involved in buying and selling them. In light of that fact, last year I interviewed a top

Video: Rare 1955 interview with Orson Welles

Video: Rare interviews with Orson Welles From 1955, 1960, and 1963. If he were just known for his work as a writer, director, and actor in the classic 1941 movie Citizen Kane, that would be enough to cement Orson Welles’ place in movie history. But he also wrote The Magnificent

On Writing

“Write about the emotions you fear the most.” — Laurie Halse Anderson

Daily Dialogue — September 5, 2016

Pike Bishop: They got Freddy. Looks like he’s hit pretty bad. Dutch Engstrom: Damn that Deke Thornton to hell! Pike Bishop: What would you do in his place? He gave his word. Dutch Engstrom: Gave his word to a railroad. Pike Bishop: It’s his word! Dutch Engstrom: That

Zero Draft Thirty 2016 Autumn Challenge: Day 4

Zero Draft Thirty: Day 4. September 1: Type FADE IN / The Beginning. September 30: Type FADE OUT / The End. 30 days. 1 script. Movie script. TV script. First draft. Rewrite. Whatever. Get it down. Get it done. For background on how the Zero Draft Challenge came into being and what

Go Into The Story Script Reading & Analysis: The Good Dinosaur

This week, we have been reading, analyzing, and discussing the script and movie The Good Dinosaur, screenplay by Meg LeFauve, story by Peter Sohn & Erik Benson & Meg LeFauve & Kelsey Mann & Bob Peterson, original concept and development by Bob Peterson, additional screenplay material by Peter Hedges &

Screenwriting News (August 29-September 4, 2016)

This week’s writing deals and movie project news. Gesha-Marie Bland writing “The Ripper” for Maven Pictures. Daniel Casey scripted “Kin” going forward with 21 Laps Entertainment. Richard Linklater adapting “Last Flag Flying” for Detour Filmproduction. Guy Moshe writing “The Last Draw of Jack of Hearts” for Lituanica Films.

Interview [Video]: Damien Chazelle (“Whiplash”)

Since the Daily Dialogue today comes from Whiplash, I thought I’d reprise this interview with its writer-director Damian Chazelle. Also timely because Chazelle’s latest movie La La Land is rolling out at the Venice and Telluride festivals to enormous acclaim. Here is a DP/30 interview with

Daily Dialogue — September 4, 2016

“You think I’m fucking stupid? I know it was you.” — Whiplash (2014), written by Damien Chazelle The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Blame. Trivia: The director and writer of the film, Damien Chazelle, could not get funding for the movie, so he instead turned it into a short

Zero Draft Thirty 2016 Autumn Challenge: Day 3

Zero Draft Thirty: Day 3. September 1: Type FADE IN / The Beginning. September 30: Type FADE OUT / The End. 30 days. 1 script. Movie script. TV script. First draft. Rewrite. Whatever. Get it down. Get it done. For background on how the Zero Draft Challenge came into being and what

Daily Dialogue theme for next week: Argument

The Daily Dialogue theme for next week: Argument, suggested by Mark Twain. Jonathan Mardukas: Jack, you’re a grown man. You’re in control of your own words. Jack Walsh: You’re goddamn right I am. Now here come two words for you: Shut the fuck up. Midnight Run (1988)

Script Analysis: “The Good Dinosaur” — Part 6: Takeaways

Reading scripts. Absolutely critical to learn the craft of screenwriting. The focus of this weekly series is a deep structural and thematic analysis of each script we read. Our daily schedule: Monday: Scene-By-Scene Breakdown Tuesday: Plot Wednesday: Characters Thursday: Themes Friday: Dialogue Saturday: Takeaways Today: Takeaways. This week,

Saturday Hot Links

Time for the 253rd installment of Saturday Hot Links, your week’s essential reading about movies, TV, streaming, Hollywood, and other things of writerly interest. Telluride to debut Oscar hopefuls including Sully, Moonlight and Una. Telluride Film Festival: These 7 Films Could Change the Awards Conversation. The Oscar Contenders of

Interview (Written): Todd Phillips

A Little White Lies interview with writer-director Todd Phillips whose writing credits include Road Trip, Old School, and the recently released War Dogs. There’s a lot of talk about how we’ve now entered the post-satire age. What’s your take on that? It certainly seems that

Daily Dialogue — September 3, 2016

Captain Miller: Private, your outfit wants to stay, that’s one thing. Your party’s over here. Private Ryan: Sir, I can’t leave until at least reinforcements come —  Captain Miller: You’ve got three minutes to gather your gear. Private Ryan: Sir, what about them, there’s barely, hardly

Zero Draft Thirty 2016 Autumn Challenge: Day 2

Zero Draft Thirty: Day 1. September 1: Type FADE IN / The Beginning. September 30: Type FADE OUT / The End. 30 days. 1 script. Movie script. TV script. First draft. Rewrite. Whatever. Get it down. Get it done. For background on how the Zero Draft Challenge came into being and what

Dumb Little Writing Tricks That Work: Adopt a different writing persona

This is a first in GITS history: Another Dumb Little Writing Trick That Work, only this one isn’t my idea, but from some actual scientists: We value creativity and are often justifiably proud of our most creative acts. Solving a difficult problem at work is a major achievement. Writing

Script Analysis: “The Good Dinosaur” — Part 5: Dialogue

Reading scripts. Absolutely critical to learn the craft of screenwriting. The focus of this weekly series is a deep structural and thematic analysis of each script we read. Our daily schedule: Monday: Scene-By-Scene Breakdown Tuesday: Plot Wednesday: Characters Thursday: Themes Friday: Dialogue Saturday: Takeaways Today: Dialogue. Screenplay by

The 11 Fundamental Questions: A Guide to a Better Screenplay

I don’t often — in fact rarely — promote a book about screenwriting. Two main reasons why: (1) If the author of the book has not had actual boots-on-ground experience as a Hollywood writer, how can I trust they know what they’re talking about, especially since so much

Writing and the Creative Life: Three types of creators

My son Will is a graduate of a five-year dual degree program at Tufts University and the New England Conservatory. He received two Bachelor’s degrees with three majors: Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Music Theory and Music Composition. Currently he is just starting his second year of a doctoral

Daily Dialogue — September 2, 2016

“It seems despite your exhaustive defensive strategies, you still have a bit of a security problem, Headmaster. I’m afraid it’s quite extensive. How dare you stand where he stood. Tell them how it happened that night. Tell them how you looked him in the eye, a man who

Zero Draft Thirty 2016 Autumn Challenge: Day 1

Zero Draft Thirty: Day 1. September 1: Type FADE IN / The Beginning. September 30: Type FADE OUT / The End. 30 days. 1 script. Movie script. TV script. First draft. Rewrite. Whatever. Get it down. Get it done. For background on how the Zero Draft Challenge came into being and what

Spec Script Deal: “Captive State”

Participant Media acquires science fiction spec script “Captive State” written by Rupert Wyatt and Erica Beeney. From Deadline: In competitive bidding, Participant Media has acquired worldwide rights to Captive State, a package for a big-scale film that Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes helmer Rupert Wyatt will direct